Display device



11,1941 L. w. SAULSBURY 2,231,091

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 25,-. 1937 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb 11,1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Application June 23,1937,Serial No. 149,821

Claims.

The present invention is concerned with merchandise displays, and moreparticularly with such devices made of cardboard or like material,

and serving chiefly for counter orlshowcase display of small units orpackages.

While the invention is shown applied for sales display of pencil leadpackages, it is also useful for like purpose with packages for pencils,fountain pens, crayons, chewing gum, candy, tooth brushes and the like,and also. for unpackaged articles of corresponding shape, such I aserasers, sticks of sealing wax and the like.

An object of the invention is toprovide a display rack, made from asimple inexpensive cardboard blank, which may be shipped in flatknocked-down condition, and which may readily be set up without theexercise of skill, or the use of tools, staples, rivets, pins oradhesive, to make up a merchandise display of attractive and distinctiveappearance.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type, for displayinga multiplicity of packages in such a way, as to expose themto substan- Itially full view, and to permit the easy successive dispensing thereofby a simple. manipulation applied at a singleejecting station whilerendering it difiicult for said packages to be shoplifted, all withoutimpairment of the attractiveness of the display, whether it is fullycharged with theunits or packages, or partly empty.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of various possibleembodiments of the several features of the invention- Fig. 1 is aperspective view of thedisplay device containing a plurality of stackedpackages, one of said packages being shown in the process of beingdischarged from the device;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the display device;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sections taken on line 3-3, 4--4 and 5-5respectively of "Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a rear View of the display device;

Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on line 'I'! of Fig.

. 45 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective of the lower portion of thedisplay device shown in empty condition, and on a reduced scale; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view on a reduced scale of the blank from whichthedisplay device is formed.

= Referring now to the drawing, the display rack comprises a rear panelII, having its'upper portion preferably decorated and printedwithadvertising matter, a pair of contiguous base sections I2 and I3, apair of spaced rectangular side pocket pieces I4 and I5 connected to thefront of said panel for retaining packages I6 therebetween, andadvantageously a rectangular loop strap H for holding the packages of arear stack against displacement with respect to a second stack infrontof said strap. These packages are shown of the type containing pencilleads to be used in mechanical pencils, but as far as certain aspects ofthe invention are concerned'they may contain any other articles or unitsof merchanm dise, such as those previously referred to.

The pocket pieces I4 and I5 include top walls 2!], extending forwardlyfrom the rear panel I I, front panels 2| extending parallel to said rearpanel, and outer or end walls '22 and 23 respectively, forming endabutments for all of said packages IIi, except the bottom row thereof.The bottom ed e of the outer end wall'23 of thepocket piece I5 'isspaced above thebase sectionI'2 to form an opening 24 the full width ofsaid end wall, and has a semi-circular cut-out 24a to'permit easyinsertion of a finger through saidiopening. The end wall 22 of the otherpocket'piece I 4 has a flap 1Z5, hinged at the bottom thereof andswingable into position to expose a discharge port 25 the full width ofsaid wall, so that the'bottom packages Ifi fromeither stack may bedischarged therethrough when pushed through by T'fin'ger manipulation atthe'openingM.

The loop strap I'I includes an upper pa'rtZS, extending forwardly fromthe rear panel I I, and a front panel 21 substantially parallel tosaidrear panel and disposed midway between the front panels 2| of thepocket pieces I l and I5, and the rear panel I I. v Extending rearwardlyfrom the sides of the rear panel II isa pair of'wing flaps 28 formingeasel supports for the display rack;

Although as far as certain aspectsof the present invention areconcerriedthe display rack may be of molded material, or be madecompositely of sheet material, it is advantageously formed from a singleblank of cardboard or similar comparatively stiff bendable material,shaped, slitted and scored as shown in Fig. 9. This blank comprises ingeneral a main panelsection A, forming the rear panel II of the displayrack, and a pair of side sections B and C, connected to said main panelsection respectively by score "lines '29, extending in alinement withthe outer side edges'of said mainpanel section.

The mainpanel section A is provided with four parallelsli-tstl, 32, 33and 34, extending length- We of the blank, and having their upper endsat the same level. The lower ends of the two outer slits 3| and 34 areat the same level, and extend below the lower level ends of the twoslits 32 and 33. Spaced above the lower ends of these slits 32 and 33,and extending respectively between the slits 3| and 32, and between theslits 33 and 34 are the alined transverse score lines 35 along which thelower portion of the blank is forwardly folded to form the base sectionsI2 and I3.

The pair of slits 32 and 33 is disposed centrally with respect to thesides of the blank, and form therebetween the loop strap IT. For thatpurpose these slits 32 and 33 are interconnected transversely at theirupper ends by a score line 36,- below said score line by a score line31, and at their lower ends by a score line 38. The portion of the blankbetween the slits 32 and. 33 is folded forwardly along the score line 36to form the upper part 26 of the loop strap I1, and along the scorelines 31 and 38 to form the front panel. 21.

The portions of the blanks between the side slits 3| and 34, and thesides of the main panel section A respectively, form the upper walls andfront panels of the pocket pieces I4 and I5. For that purpose theseslits 3| and 34 are connected transversely to the nearest sides of themain panel A respectively by score lines 42 at their upper ends, scorelines 43 disposed below said score lines 42 a distance equal to twicethe distance between the two score lines 36 and 31, and score lines 44disposed below the score lines 35 a distance equal to the distancebetween the score lines 42 and 43.

The portions of the blank between the slits 3| and 34, and the sides ofthe main panel section A are folded forwardly along the score lines 42to form the upper walls 26 of the pocket pieces I4 and I5, and along thescore lines 43 and 44 'to form the front panels 2| of said pocketpieces.

The side blank sections B and 0 form the end walls 22 and 23 of thepocket pieces I4 and I5 respectively, the easel supports 28, and themeans for interlocking the various sections of the display stand insetup condition. For that purpose the side section B has a score line 46parallel the adjoining score line 29, to form the end wall 22 of thepocket piece I4, and the upper edge of said wall between said scorelines extends score line 46 and the adjoining score line 29respectively, and interconnected at their upper ends by a score line 48,defining therebelow the closure fiap 25 and forming a hinged connectionfor said flap.

The side section C has a score line 50 parallel to the adjoining scoreline 29 and defining with said score line 29 the end wall 23 of thepocket piece I5. 'The upper edge of this end wall section 23 extends inalinement with the score line 43, and its lower edge is spaced above thescore line 44 to define the opening 24 and is provided with thesemi-circular cut-out 24a for the purpose already described.

The side sections B and C of the blank are folded rearwardly along thescore lines 29 to form the end walls 22 and 23 of the pocket pieces I4and I5 respectively.

In order to provide means for interlocking the various sections of thestand into setup condition, the side sections B and C are provided ontheir upper ends and on opposite sides thereof beyond the score lines 46and 50 with a pair of extensions 5| respectively which are foldablelongitudinally along said score lines to define the upper rear edges ofthe end walls 22 and 23 of the pocket pieces, and which are provided attheir lower edges with notches 52 to form rectangular tongues 53. Theseblank extensions 5| are folded inwardly along the score lines 46 and 50so that said extensions lap the rear side of the panel II as shown inFig. 6, and the tongues 53 are inserted downwardly into rectangularslots 54, having downwardly extending end slits 55 to afford a tongue 56therebetween for resiliently and frictionally engaging the tongues 53 asshown in Figs. 6 and 7.

- Also extending beyond the score lines 46 and 50 of the side blanksections B and C are the wing flaps 28, which are separated from theflaps 5I by the slits 51, and which are hinged along said score lines 46and 50 to permit said wing flaps to be folded slightly inwardly and outof view when the stand is. in display position.

In setting up the blank and loading the. packages I6 in their properposition on the folded blank, the blank is first folded in position toform the top walls 20 and the front panels 2|, of the pocket piecesI4and I5 and the upper end 26 and the front panel 21 of the strap loopII in the manner already described. Before bending the side portion ofthe blank beyond the score lines 29, and while the-sides of the pocketpieces I4 and I5 are open, the packages I6 are Insertedlengthwisethrough the open sides of said pocket pieces, first throughthe strap loop I! until the rear stack has been formed, and then infront of the loop strap I! to form the front stack. The side sections Band C of the blank are then folded rearwardly along the score lines 29as already described, to form the end walls 22 and 23 of the pocketpieces I4 and I5 respectively and inwardly along the score lines 46 and50 to lock the tongues 53 into the slots 54, and to provide the easelsupports 28 for the stand.

The front base section I3 is preferably bendable along a score line 60,interconnecting the two score lines 44, so that by bending said frontbase section I3 with respect to the rear base section I2, and byadjusting the angular position of the easel supports 28 with respect tothe sides of the stand, said stand may have any desired tilt within alimited range.

In the ordinary operation of dispensing from the display stand, the'front'stack is first dispensed successively from the bottom of thestand as shown in Fig. 1. As'each package I6 from the bottom as a stackis pushed through the discharge opening the closure fiap 25 will yieldoutwardly as shown in Fig. 1, and when said package is completelydischarged; said flap will immediately return to closure position withrespect to said discharge opening, and the remainder'of the stack willdrop bygravity topresent another package in discharge position. As thefront'stack of packages is dispensed from the stand, the rear stackbecomes exposed to view. The exposed surfaces of the loop strap I! arepreferably colored or decorated so that the ornamental attractiveness ofthe stand will not be diminished by the removal of the front stack.

The packages from the rear stack may be dispensed from the bottom ofsaid stack by the same process that was employed in dispensing from thefront stack. As these packages are successively removed from. thedisplay stand, there is exposed the sections of the rear panel betweenthe pocket pieces I4 and I5 and the loop strap I'I, said sections beingpreferably colored or decorated to match the loop strap l1,' so that thestand will retain itsornamental appearance, even after the packages havebeen completely discharged from 5 the rear stack.

, It is seen therefore that the display stand may be set up from asingle blank, and secured in setup condition without the use of anyspecial fastening means, except for the use of tongue and slotconnections. Furthermore, the stand has a highly ornamental andattractive appearance which immediately attracts attention thereto, saidornamental appearance being retained even after most of the packagesdisplayed thereon have been dispensed or discharged. Furthermore, thedispensing of the packagesfrom the stand is effected by a simple fingermanipulation, without effecting the disorderly disarrangement of thepackages. Also the containers can not be lifted from the stand, but canonly be dispensed therefrom by the manipulation referred to, so that thepossibility of shoplifting the packages from the stand is substantiallyminimized.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described a device in whichthe several features of this invention are embodied, and which device inits action attains the various objects of the invention and is wellsuited to meet the requirements of practical use.

80 As many changes could be made in the above construction, and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above 35 description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Pat- 40 ent is:

1. A display device including a rear panel, a base extending forwardlythereof and a pair of side pocket pieces comprising front panel sectionslongitudinally slit from the plane of said 45 rear panel andtransversely bent out of the plane thereof, rising from said base andhaving a horizontal top wall connected to the rear panel, each of saidpocket pieces having also an end wall unitary therewith and extendingfrom said base 50 to the corresponding top wall and attached to saidrear panel, said pocket pieces being adapted toholdtherebetween a stackof merchandise units extending at their ends into said pocket pieces andbridging therebetween over the tops of 55 which stacks the top walls ofthe respective side pocket pieces extend.

2. A display device including a rear panel, a base extending forwardlythereof and a pair of side pocket pieces comprising front panel sec- 50tions longitudinally slit from the plane of said rear pan-e1 andtransversely bent out of the plane thereof and rising from said base,each of said pocket pieces having an end wall unitary therewith andattached to said rear panel, one of said 5 pieces being provided on itsend wall near the bottom with a discharge port, the other piece beingprovided on its end wall near the bottom with an opening to permit theinsertion of a finger, whereby merchandise units disposed in stack 70formation between the side pocket pieces may be pushed successivelyendwise through said discharge port.

3. A one piece display stand including a rear upstanding panel, a baseextending forwardly 75 thereof, a pair of side pocket pieces adapted tohold a stack of merchandise units therebetween, each of said side piecescomprising a front panel bent upwardly from said base, an end wallunitary with one of said panels and attached to the other, said pocketsbeing arranged in rectan- 5 gular relationship, each of said pocketshaving a top wall unitary with and directly connecting the top of thefront panel to the rear panel, one of said end walls having a dischargeport near the bottom thereof through which the units may 10 besuccessively discharged, and the other end wall also having an openingnear the bottom thereof to permit the insertion of a finger by means ofwhich said units may be pushed endwise through said discharge port. 15

4. A display device made from a single blank and including an upstandingrear panel, a base extending forwardly of said panel, a pair of sidepocket pieces connected to said panel for holding a stack of merchandiseunits therebetween, and 20 extending upwardly from said base andcomprising front panels and end walls, extensions extending rearwardlyfrom said end walls, said extensions being transversely interrupted forthe lower portions thereof to form easel supports for 25 said stand andthe upper portions thereof to form retaining flaps for the respectivepocket pieces by attachment thereof to the rear panel.

5. A display device comprising a unitary blank including an upstandingrear panel, a base extending forwardly of said panel, a pair of sidepocket pieces connected to said rear panel each including a front paneland an end wall and adapted to hold a pair of stacks of merchandiseunits therebetween, and a loop strap upstanding from said base betweensaid side pieces spaced from the rear panel by a distance less than thefronts of said side pieces for holding one of said stacks against saidrear panel.

6. In combination, a display device made from a single blank andincluding a rear panel, a base, and a loop strap integral at its endswith said rear panel and said base respectively and extendingsubstantially in rectangular relationship with respect to said rearpanel and said base, and adapted to retain a plurality of merchandiseunits in stacked relationship against said rear panel and passinghorizontally through said loop strap, said blank having means toencompass the ends of such merchandise units.

7. A display device comprising a unitary blank including an upstandingrear panel, a base extending forwardly of said panel, a pair of sidepocket pieces connected to said panel, and adapted to hold a stack ofmerchandise units therebetween, said side pieces each including a frontpanel, a loop-strap upstanding from said base between said side piecesand spaced rearwardly of said front panel to hold said stack againstsaid rear panel and to separate said latter stack from a stack of unitsdisposed in front of said loop strap and behind said front panels.

8. A display stand formed from a single blank and including anupstanding rear panel, a pair of side pocket pieces for holding a stackof merchandise units therebetween, each of said pieces including a frontpanel, a top and an end wall, one of said end walls having a dischargeport at the bottom thereof and the other end wall having an opening nearthe bottom topermit the insertion of a finger therethrough, whereby thepieces may be discharged endwise successively through said dischargeport, an upstanding loop strap between said side pieces for holding astack of merchandise units against said rear panel, flaps unitary withsaid end walls extending'beyond the rearward edges of the same andinterlocked with said rear panel, and a pair of winged extensionsextending rearwardly from said rearward edges and forming easel supportsfor said stand.

9. A blank for use in a display device comprising a main body portionadapted to form a rear panel for said display device, said blank beingprovided with a longitudinal slit near each side of said blank, and aplurality of transverse score lines extending outwardly from said slitsalong which the blank is adapted to be folded to ,form a pair of sidepocket pieces having front panels, and a pair of extensions connected byscore lines to said front panel sections and foldable along said latterscore lines to form end walls for said pocket pieces, said end wallsbeing foreshortened at their lower ends to afford removal openings.

10. A blank for use in a display device comprising a main body portionadapted to for'mth rear panel of the display device, said blank beingprovided with a slit near each side of said blank, and a plurality oftransverse score lines extending outwardly from said slits along whichthe blank is adapted to be fold-ed to form a pair of side pocket pieceshaving front panels, a pair of extensions connected by score lines tosaid front panel sections and foldable along said latter score lines toform the end walls of the pocket pieces, saidend walls beingforeshortened at their lower ends to afford removal openings, said endwalls having extensions each comprising two sections, one forinterlocking the corresponding pocket with the rear panel at acorresponding slot in the latter, and the other for forming an easelsupport for said device.

LAWRENCE WILSON SAULSBURY.

